“When I see you again, my lady, you will probably be Lady Worthington.”
Smiling politely, Grace tugged on Matt and led them off toward another group. His attention though was not on where they were going, but on Charlotte and Louisa. “My love, you cannot go hieing off every time a young man addresses one of the girls.”
“I don’t like this elopement talk.” Matt frowned. “It sounds much too romantic.”
Grace nodded to some of their acquaintances. “Are you afraid one of our sisters will think it so?”
“Aren’t you?”
She glanced at him in thought. “No, as soon as they understand the couple will have to retire to the country and not show their faces for the next couple of Seasons, they will not think it so enticing.”
The expression on her face and her confidence reassured him. “Still, I would like to go home as soon as common courtesy will allow us to.”
Grinning, Grace glanced at the girls. “First we must detach them from their admirers without them knowing what we’re doing.” She paused. “Charlie is the excuse we’ll use. Charlotte will not want to miss the opportunity to welcome him and introduce him to Louisa.”
When they returned to Patience, the girls were in a circle of their new friends, all talking animatedly. Grace’s lips formed a moue. “The elopement?”
Patience’s lips thinned. “Yes. The story is growing by the moment.”
“Let’s not make too much of it,” Grace replied. “The less said, the easier forgotten.”
“Of course you’re right,” Patience agreed. “When it comes up, we will pretend that we are not that interested.”
Suppressing a growl, Matt took a deep breath and calmly took note of the young men with their sisters. He didn’t know either of them by sight. Though the good thing about thetonwas information would be forthcoming. “Grace, they should go down to supper with us.”
“Yes, my dear.”
When he would have ordered their sisters to accompany him, Grace glanced over and said, “Louisa, Charlotte, will you join us for supper?”
Charlotte turned. “Oh yes. We’re glad you’re back. Louisa and I have so much to tell you.”
Grace smiled. “Then let us go down so I may hear it all.”
A gentleman with black hair and a rather swarthy complexion, who had not been part of the group, bowed. At least Matt knew this one. “Lady Charlotte, may I have the pleasure of accompanying you to supper?”
Charlotte glanced at Grace, whose brow slowly rose in an imperious manner. “Excuse me. I do not believe we’ve been introduced.”
The young man stuttered and bowed hastily. “Oh—oh, my lady. Excuse me. I was introduced to Lady Charlotte earlier in the evening.”
“My love,” Matt said, “may I present Lord Harrington? Harrington, Lady Grace Carpenter, my betrothed.”
Grace inclined her head. “Lord Harrington. I’m delighted to meet you. The family was just going down to supper. Would you like to join us?”
Taking the hand she offered he bowed again. “It would be my pleasure, my lady, and may I wish you happy?”
“Thank you.”
When he straightened, Harrington turned to her sister. “Lady Charlotte?”
She smiled brightly. “Lord Harrington. I’d be delighted to have your escort.”
They turned to go when Worthington almost tripped over another young man. “Bentley?”
“My lord, I—I wanted to ask if Lady Louisa would accept my arm to the supper room.”
Bentley was not much above medium height with light brown hair styled in curls. Worthington strove to keep from grinning. He’d never known Bentley to stammer. “Then you must ask her.”
Bentley bowed. “Lady Louisa, will you . . .”
